Anthony Karbo Warns Against Prophecy Without Theological Grounding

Former Member of Parliament, lawyer and senior advisor to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, has cautioned against the growing practice of prophecy in Ghana that, in his view, lacks serious theological foundation.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Mr. Karbo argued that religious authority should be rooted in deep knowledge of scripture and disciplined spiritual formation, rather than popularity or public attention. He expressed concern that prophecy has increasingly become detached from rigorous study of Christian doctrine.

According to him, one of the most critical questions facing contemporary Christianity is how individuals become recognised as prophets. He suggested that the absence of clear theological grounding has made it easy for people to claim prophetic authority without accountability.

To illustrate his point, Mr. Karbo referenced the Catholic Church’s approach to priestly formation, which requires years of structured training. He explained that candidates typically pass through the minor seminary and then the major seminary, spending about seven years studying theology and scripture before being ordained.

“In the first year, you study theology and the Bible, both the Old and the New Testament,” he said, stressing that understanding scripture in its entirety is essential for responsible preaching.

Mr. Karbo criticised what he described as selective use of scripture by some preachers, particularly the heavy reliance on the Old Testament while neglecting the New Testament. “The New Testament represents a significant development in Christian teaching and should not be treated as optional,” he noted.

As a student of Christian Religious Studies himself, Mr. Karbo revealed that he nearly became a Roman Catholic priest but ultimately did not proceed after discerning that he had not received the calling. He used his personal experience to underscore the importance of both vocation and preparation in religious leadership.

He maintained that genuine spiritual leadership does not rely on sensational declarations or dramatic prophecies. “Actual men of God do not make such prophecies,” he stated.